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Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad

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Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color QuadTom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad

One of the most captivating eyeshadow palette I have ever laid my eyes on, and almost too much for my cooler-toned sensibilities, it is after all still Spring!  But if we are to go out with a bang, we should make sure this is a night to remember.  And Tom Ford Last Dance is certainly one unforgettable palette!

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad

As I mentioned in my previous post [on Disco Dust here], there is something vaguely familiar about each of the new eye color quads that Tom Ford has released this Spring 2016.  Last Dance immediately brought my mind to the now discontinued Sahara Haze [here], which I had very fond memories of as it was my very first Tom Ford purchase, but sadly it was a palette that I could never make work on my eyes and eventually I had given it up to a more loving owner.  And so I was a little cautious on this one, but what eventually sold me was that stunner of a blue!

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad closeup

Overall, Last Dance is a warm-toned palette, but it manages to stay fairly balanced without going too warm.  In particular, the beige and brown shades have been made less yellow, which works much better for my skin tone.  The inclusion of that glittery cerulean blue opened up a world of possibilities that Sahara Haze lacked.  Sara has comparison swatches between Last Dance and Sahara Haze here in case you are curious.

Here is another look at Last Dance in all its pristine beauty!

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad closeup

And here are the swatches, going clockwise round the palette starting from the top left:

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad swatches

From left to right, the shades are:

  • Pale cream with a satin finish
  • Medium-dark brown with a satin finish
  • Medium-dark olive green with a satin finish
  • Medium cerulean blue glitter with a blackened base interspersed with silver glitter

Much as I found Last Dance intellectually stimulating, this is not one of those straightforward quads that I like to pick up when I’m brain-dead in the morning.  I must admit that the blue glitter had me stumped for a minute, as it is not one of the typical fine glitter over a sheer base that Tom Ford usually brings out to be used layered with one of the other darker shades in a palette.  Instead, this is Tom Ford Glitter 2.0, which pushes the boundaries of edgy and wearable, with enough opacity of color to be worn on its own, and yet still layerable.

I created 2 looks with Last Dance, and the first being something that I could still wear to the office:

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad EOTD

With this eye look, I used the pale cream all over my lid as a base shade.  Thereafter, I applied the medium-dark brown to the inner half of my lid, followed by the olive green on the outer half.  After that, I blended the blue over the outer third of my lid, winging outwards.  Much of the glitter actually falls away when applied with a brush, so the resultant look is not frosty at all.  Finished by lining the outer half of my lash line with Tom Ford Eye Definition Eyeliner in Azure, followed by mascara.

Here is the complete makeup look to put things into context:

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad MOTD

As promised, here is a 2nd eye look featuring that glittery blue in all its full glory:

Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad EOTD 2

To start, I first applied a layer of Tom Ford Eye Primer all over my lid to hold onto the glitter better.  Thereafter, I patted the glittery blue all over my lid, focusing more on the middle section, and gently blending into the inner corner and upwards towards the crease.  Used a bit of the olive green to blend out the crease, and added a dash of cream under the brow bone as a highlight.  Finished with Tom Ford Eye Definition Eyeliner in Black, and mascara.

There is a little bit of fallout when applying the glittery blue, so be prepared to clean up.  But afterwards, I experienced little fallout throughout the day, and it also did not fade nor crease on my lids.  I was surprised, but happy to see that it blends well with all the other shades in the palette.  On their own, the brown and green shades make an elegant pairing that is flattering to wear, even on my already very yellow skin tone.  Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something different!

Last Dance along with all the other newly released Eye Color Quad and Spring 2016 Runway Color Collection are now available for purchase at the Tom Ford counter at TANGS Orchard in Singapore!  Have you seen it yet?

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Last Dance Eye Color Quad appeared first on Silverkis' World.


Tom Ford Summer 2016 Soleil Collection: Moisturecore Lip Color & Ultrarich Lip Color

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Tom Ford Soleil Collection Summer 2016 Ultrarich & Moisturecore lip colorTom Ford Soleil Collection Summer 2016 Ultrarich & Moisturecore lip color
Is it too early to be looking at Summer 2016 collections already?  Not according to Mr. Ford!  The Tom Ford woman travels all year round, to all kinds of exotic locations worldwide.  Summer in Portofino, Maldives, Tahiti, Puerto Rico… all time, anytime!  And so with that in mind, Tom Ford will be making part of its super popular perennial summer products permanently available this year, and adding to that some new seasonal lip and cheek products.  I had the chance to preview and swatch the Tom Ford Soleil Collection at a press event recently, and would love to share them with you here!
Tom Ford Soleil Collection Summer 2016

There is quite a fair bit to cover with this year’s Tom Ford Soleil Collection for Summer 2016, and instead of rushing through them all in 1 marathon post, I would like to focus on just the lip products today, and save the rests for tomorrow.
Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color
Hot on the heels of 5 new Eye Color Quads that were released just a few months ago [Last Dance reviewed here, and Disco Dust reviewed here], there is understandably nothing new for the eyes this season.  Instead, Tom Ford will be giving us 2 brand new lines of lip color!  And from our experience with those insanely popular Lips & Boys [read here], there is no lipstick like a Tom Ford to drive women into a frenzy.  Seen above are the completely new Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color [SGD77].  These are hybrid lip treatment and color 2-in-1 products, with a core filled with luxurious passion fruit oil and a bright pop of color.  Encapsulating that is a bolder, luminous lip color formulated with plumping melon fruit extract, Tom Ford’s signature moisturizing muru muru butter, and other conditioning esters for optimal comfort.  There are 6 shades to choose from:
Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color swatches
From left to right, the shades are:
  • Carriacou – warm peach
  • Pipa – rosy coral
  • Cala di Volpe – reddish brown
  • Otranto – berry mauve
  • Mustique – rose pink
  • Scandola – pale nude
The Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color are probably sheerest in the family, but they are much more buildable than the Lip Sheers in my opinion, and really do feel fabulous on the lips.  They have the same creaminess as the Tom Ford Lip Color Shine [reviewed here], perhaps even more moisturising.  There is a subtle touch of golden pearl to them that makes these look really expensive and every bit that sun goddess.  They also do last decently long, fading gently to a soft stain over 4-5 hours.
Tom Ford Ultrarich Lip Color
Make no mistake, these are not new renditions of the Tom Ford Lip Color Sheers [reviewed here], but are in fact another class of all-new Tom Ford Ultrarich Lip Color [SGD75]!  I must admit that I was not always the biggest fan of Tom Ford Lip Color.  Whilst I loved the amazing pigmentation of the original formula, I did not find them particularly moisturizing and could sometimes feel a little heavy when applied straight from the bullet.  Now, with the Ultrarich Lip Color, I think I may have finally found my ideal formula!  These are the perfect blend of pigmentation and comfort, and so incredibly lightweight on the lips!  They have the same luminous satin finish, and come in some gorgeous poppy shades!
Tom Ford Ultrarich Lip Color swatches
From left to right, the shades are:
  • Revolve Around Me – warm beige
  • Solar Affair – bright coral
  • Aphrodite – fuchsia
  • Les Mepris – vermillion
  • Temptation Waits – brown with hints of purple
  • Purple Noon – berry
I’ve been wearing Purple Noon lately, and this is probably the most comfortable lipstick I own in such a deep rich hue.  It feels light like second skin, and my lips don’t feel parched at the end of the day.  It leaves a beautiful stain that lasts all day; and since it is so pigmented, I have the flexibility of just dabbing on a little bit more after lunch or at the end of the day and it looks good as new!
All of the Moisturecore and Ultrarich Lip Colors will be available in Singapore from May, and are permanent limited edition.  Of course, for those fans who missed it or are looking to replace their beloved, Tom Ford will also be bringing back the Lip Color Sheer in Paradiso for a limited time.
I now have full swatches and reviews on those cheek palettes – The Afternooner, Bicoastal and Pineo Sole!  Hop on over here to check them out!
xo Linda
This post featured products that were kindly provided for review purposes.  All opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Summer 2016 Soleil Collection: Moisturecore Lip Color & Ultrarich Lip Color appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford Summer 2016 Soleil Collection: Bicoastal, Afternooner, Pineo Sole

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Tom Ford Bicoastal, Afternooner, Pineo SoleTom Ford Bicoastal, Afternooner, Pineo Sole

I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post about the new limited edition lip colors that Tom Ford will be releasing this Summer 2016.  Today, I will be introducing the other half of the collection which mainly focuses on sculpting those cheek bones and bringing out the natural sunlit flush!

Tom Ford Bicoastal, Afternooner, Pineo Sole

By now, you probably have already seen images of this beauty flooding your Instagram/Pinterest feed, but it doesn’t hurt to take a closer look…

Tom Ford The Afternooner Soleil Contouring Compact

Tom Ford Soleil Contouring Compact [SGD180] is the first ever face palette featuring a highlighter, blush and bronzer in a large palette which is roughly the same size as the large bronzer.  It is interesting to note that this particular compact has been given a name – The Afternooner, which leads me to speculate this is the first of many more such face palettes to come.

Tom Ford The Afternooner Soleil Contouring Compact swatches

The Afternooner is generally a warm-toned palette.  From top to bottom, the shades are:

  • Pale pink-beige that leaves a healthy luminous sheen when buffed into the top of the cheek bones.  When lightly swept on, it is a very soft highlighter devoid of any shimmers.
  • Warm-toned coral pink blush with a satin finish
  • Medium bronzer with a soft-matte finish.  This is the most yellow-toned bronzer that I have, and is more suitable for those with warmer skin tones.

I was most impressed by The Afternooner’s creamy texture… we often describe Tom Ford powders as buttery smooth, but this one is in a whole different league of its own!  The lightest touch picks up enough product, and applies so smoothly it feels like cream.

Tom Ford Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo

The other beauty not to be missed is this Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal [SGD119].  In case you thought this is simply a variation of the Soleil Contouring Compact, it is quite different in size, composition and formula.  Bicoastal is about the size of the mini bronzers, and comes with a soft pink highlighter and a brighter rose pink blush.

Tom Ford Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo swatches

As you can see from the swatch above, Bicoastal is clearly cooler-toned than The Afternooner.  Both the highlighter and blush are satin in finish, but the highlighter has a much stronger sheen than that in The Afternooner.  This Sheer Cheek Duo is formulated to be used both wet and dry, apply wet for a soft veil of color or dry for a sweeping pop of vibrancy.  Since I don’t have a habit of applying anything wet, I have only tried using Bicoastal dry, and whilst it has good pigmentation overall, it is notably sheerer than The Afternooner.  The surface of the powders feels stiffer to the touch, similar to the Skin Illuminating Powder Duo [reviewed here], but applies well with a brush and leaves a luminous radiant finish to the cheeks.

Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color Pineo Sole

Lastly, there are 2 Tom Ford Cream Cheek Colors this season.  The first is Pink Sand which is a repromote from Summer 2015 and reviewed here.  I love Pink Sand and it is the only cream cheek product that I’ve reached for time and time again.  The formula lasts me all day without fading or slipping, and has a golden luminosity that renders the sun-kissed glow that we all want.  So, I was extremely curious about the other new offering – Pineo Sole [SGD104]!  Pineo Sole is an exceptionally interesting one because it resembles a cream bronzer due to its color, but it actually sheers out substantially to give a luminous golden glow.  I love patting Pineo Sole all along the top of my cheeks as a base, then layering a blush over.  You could also use it on its own for a radiant nude look, even add a dab over the lids for some glow!

Tom Ford Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo swatches

Here is a comparison swatch between Pineo Sole and the bronze shade in The Afternooner.  I also added Terra as a point of comparison.  As you can see, Terra is the coolest-toned out of the bunch, and works better for me as a contouring product than the rests.  Terra (in the small size) will be returning as a permanent offering (the other large sized one is already permanent) along with Gold Dust [swatched here].  There is a new shade called Bronze Age which unfortunately I had not been able to swatch for you.  For your information, the large bronzers will retail at SGD160 and the mini bronzers at SGD104.

For the sake of completeness, I should also mention that there will be a few other limited edition repromotes: those double-deckered Cream and Powder Eye Colors from Summer 2015 [reviewed here], and Firelust Skin Illuminator which first debuted in Summer 2013 [reviewed here].

There is quite a far bit to check out this Summer 2016 Soleil Collection, and everything discussed here today is limited edition with the exception of the bronzers.  In case you missed it, hop on over here to check out the Moisturecore and Ultrarich Lip Colors that are also part of the Soleil Collection!  Have you already got your hands on 1 or more of those palettes?

xo Linda

This post featured products that were kindly provided for review purposes.  All opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

 

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Tom Ford Soleil Blanc EDP & Radiant Moisture Souffle

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Counting down to the launch of Tom Ford Summer 2016 Soleil Collection in Singapore!  It’s launching on 3 May at the TANGS Orchard counter, so be prepared!  I know everyone will be rushing for the makeup items, and in case you missed them before, I have reviewed and swatched the entire collection here and here.  Today, I would like to introduce 2 other items that are also part of the collection, and equally deserving of your attention – Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum and Tom Ford Radiant Moisture Souffle.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum

Soleil Blanc is the latest fragrance from Tom Ford, and is essentially summer in a bottle.  It comes in the chic white and gold packaging that marks all the summer releases, but this will be a permanent member of the Tom Ford Private Blend Collection.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum starts out with a big burst of jasmine topped by some sparkling notes at the opening.  But unlike typical white florals, Soleil Blanc drips with amber’s warmth, giving it a coconuty-feel.  There is a touch of pistachio in there which is hard to detect, but adds a certain sweet nuttiness to the brew.

When I first heard Tom Ford is releasing Soleil Blanc, I was really excited because I had envisioned it to be the fragrance version of last year’s Shimmering Body Oil [see here] which I loved.  However, when I spritzed Soleil Blanc on myself, I found it is sweeter and has less warmth.  Unlike the golden warmth of Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum [reviewed here] which was all suntan lotions and pina coladas, Soleil Blanc reminds me more of Miami – hardcore partying in tight designer minis and sugary fancy cocktails.  It is not a bad direction to go, certainly more cosmopolitan and easier to wear in the city, and much more appealing to a more broader market.  Soleil Blanc has fairly large sillage, and a small spritz is about all I can take without feeling overpowered.  It lasts about 5-6 hours before starting to fade gently, and becoming completely close to the skin after about 7-8 hours.

Tom Ford Radiant Moisture Souffle

Moving in a completely different direction, Tom Ford Radiant Moisture Souffle is a limited edition facial cream from this Summer 2016’s Soleil Collection.  This is a hybrid product that not only does lovely things for the skin, it also preps it well for makeup application.  As with all of Tom Ford’s skincare, the Radiant Moisture Souffle is formulated with the Infusing Complex, which is a cocktail of nutrients to rejuvenate skin and kickstart the natural repair mechanism.

Tom Ford Radiant Moisture Souffle swatches

Even though it is described as a souffle, the texture is more like a heavy cream but it spreads out easily and does not leave skin feeling greasy.  In the swatch above, I had first spread out a little of the Radiant Moisture Souffle on the back of my hand before placing another small dollop there so you can see the texture.  As you can see, when completely spread out, the Radiant Moisture Souffle leaves behind a golden sheen on the skin that gives it a healthy, luminous glow.

On my dehydrated skin, this feels just fine for day wear, even layered under a full face of makeup.  It keeps my skin hydrated, and is emollient enough to keep flakes at bay.  Also, the golden sheen awakens even the dullest skin from lack of sleep, and also smoothens my skin in a way that makes me feel good enough to venture out of the house without any makeup!  This almost never happens, so it is quite a feat of miracle!  On the other hand, those with oilier skin may find this a bit too heavy especially in our humid climate.  For me, I have taken to slathering this on my neck because it just looks sooo good!

For the full ingredient list and another perspective on this, please head over to Liz’s blog.

Thank you all for your kind comments you left me on my blog & Instagram yesterday!  I really truly appreciate each and every one of your support.  It means the world to me!

xo Linda

This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Soleil Blanc EDP & Radiant Moisture Souffle appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color Quad

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Tom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color QuadTom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color Quad

I am taking a mini-breather from Instagramming, not for lack of inspiration (after all, when in doubt, just choose a brand and SPAM at will isn’t it?!) but I’m anti-establishment.  The latest change in algorithm favours those who just keep spamming feed over those who are genuinely building community.  Call it old-school blogger sensibilities perhaps, but where has the real interest in people’s opinions gone?  It’s all wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am these days.

But i’m still very much there, just testing out my theory that investing in relationships will lead me farther in the long run.  So feel free to DM me or leave me a good ole-comment, and let’s get a real conversation going!  Meanwhile, I’ve gone back and forth, experimenting with some Tom Fords.  I know, it’s all about those sexy Soleil Collection [reviewed here, here & here!] at the moment, and I’m even ogling at the coming Fall sneak…. but I still have at least 2 more of the recently released Tom Ford Eye Color Quads to show you.  And I thought it’d be nice to talk about getting some cool eyes with Lilac Dream!

Tom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color Quad

I think when Tom Ford designed Lilac Dream, it was meant to be an Instagram killer.  I mean, pink + purple + taupe + shimmer!!  This, along with Honeymoon, is probably the most Instagrammed out of all the 5 new Eye Color Quads that were released.  You simply can’t take a bad photo of Lilac Dream, it is that pretty!

Tom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color Quad

I always love a good mix of textures, and at first glance it seems that Tom Ford has given us precisely that in Lilac Dream.  And for the everyday makeup user, I can definitely see the taupe being very well used.  Even the lilac shade is very wearable and not so purple that it requires hours of blending.

Tom Ford Lilac Dream Eye Color Quad

Here’s another perfunctory frontal view of Lilac Dream before it was unsullied by my curious fingers and brushes.  Now let’s take a look at some swatches, shall we?

Tom Ford Lilac Dream swatches

I would say right off the bat that individually, the taupe and purple, are spectacular shades.  But the swatches did not correspond to what I had instinctively thought I’d get from Lilac Dream, and the finishes were much more frosty then I had expected.

The swatches from top right to bottom left of picture are:

  • Bottom left of palette – light-medium cool-toned taupe with a metallic finish
  • Top left of palette – light very pale pink that has a strong white base with a frosty finish
  • Top right of palette – silver glitter with a semi-translucent base.  As I’ve often stated, such glitters are very common in Tom Ford Eye Color Quads, and are designed to be patted onto the other shades to add some oomph.
  • Bottom right of palette – medium purple with some micro-shimmers

I will just be upfront about my thoughts on these shades when I first used it.  Firstly, the taupe comes across much lighter in color than it appears in the pan, and this has to do in large part with its metallic finish.  If you were hoping to use this as a crease blending shade you will be disappointed.  I typically like to keep my colors on the center of my lid and the neutral on the outer wing, but since this applies lighter than the purple on my skin, that arrangement is not possible.  And the “pink” really disappears into my skin, giving me just a flash of frost, so it only serves as an inner corner highlight.  I can’t even apply it under my brow bone as it is way too frosty for that.  Lastly, there is not much range of color intensity from light to dark which limits the use of this palette.

Tom Ford Lilac Dream comparison swatches

As you all know, I tend to live in my own head quite a fair bit and overanalyse things.  I simply refused to believe that Tom Ford had retired a very popular Lavender Lust [reviewed here] and replaced it with a dud.  So I pulled both out for a comparison, and along the way stumbled upon Chanel Tisse Rhapsodie [reviewed here] which looked very similar in the pan so I included that in the great swatch-a-thon.

I had bought Lavender Lust in the past because I love purple eyeshadows, but even then, I thought it was too monotonal a palette.  On the other hand, the pink shade in Lavender Lust is much more true to a pink than the one in Lilac Dream, and the range of intensities and finishes are wider for greater versatility.

Even though Tisse Rhapsodie looked so similar to Lilac Dream in the pan, it swatches completely different.  There is much better range of colors, and I’m crazy about that dark shimmery charcoal.  Where Lilac Dream erred on the side of frost, Tisse Rhapsodie chose to go more satin with micro-shimmers.  It is all a matter of preferences, and in fact, Lilac Dream is ultra wearable!

Tom Ford Lilac Dream EOTD

Us beauty bloggers tend to overthink things sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to “dumb it down” a little right?  Whoever said you needed to wear all the shades every single time?  So I just went with the flow, and dusted the purple shade all over my lid, letting it sheer out and then dabbed a little of the silver glitter on the center.  Lined lower lash line with taupe and added the pink to my inner corner.  I could have added a touch of black liner, but I went without just to show you how Lilac Dream really looks like unaided.  And to put the look into context:

Tom Ford Lilac Dream makeup look

Tom Ford Lilac Dream does work indeed, and gives that very soft and pretty look effortlessly.  Probably not the most versatile Eye Color Quad I own, and when you have as vast a collection as I do, there isn’t 1 killer shade in there that makes me jump up and want it straight away.  But it is a nice one for those who are just starting to venture into high-end makeup, and for those looking for an easy Spring-to-Summer palette.  Wear the purple all over for spring, and then the taupe all over for summer!  Or use a darkening base to get an evening look.  I do think it is easier to use than Lavender Lust, and a nice addition to Nude Dip.  In terms of quality, I feel Lilac Dream is on par with the rest of the Tom Ford eyeshadows, but I always use a primer anyway as my lids tend to be oily.

Have you picked up Lilac Dream, if so what are your thoughts?

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino Forte

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Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino ForteTom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino Forte

Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino is one of the most iconic of the Private Blends, and has grown into one of the top-sellers from the brand.  It is distinctive in its perfectly balanced citrus composition that is equally suited for men and women.  And it stands out as one of the best in a class of fragrances that is becoming increasingly rare.  Over years, Tom Ford has reinterpreted Neroli Portofino in a number of varied ways, one of which was Fleur de Portofino [reviewed here] which I had loved for its very different perspective from the original.  This Summer 2016, Tom Ford has gone back to the original brew and given us 2 new flankers – Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino Forte.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino Forte

I must admit that I was never a huge fan of the original Neroli Portofino, there is something soapy about it that never felt very intimate on me.  The new Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua stays very close to the original, but as the name implies, this is a lighter brew.  It starts out with a tart burst of the same citrus mélange of orange, lemon and orange blossom; but it quickly settles down into a base of neroli and amber.  My skin chemistry pulls out the bitterness of neroli oil and the warmth of amber disappears fairly quickly.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

As an Eau de toilette, Neroli Portofino Acqua stays pretty close to the skin.  It fades into the background after the initial burst, but does not completely disappear for a good 8 hours.  And it is this characteristics that makes it so suitable for men.  I spritzed it on my man the other day, and it was instant love!  On him, Neroli Portofino Acqua did not feel quite so bitter, in fact it brought out a crisp manliness that is quite sexy.  The touch of amber is more distinct on him, making the overall scent more luxe and uniquely Tom Ford.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Forte

In perfect counterpoint to the Acqua, Tom Ford has also introduced Neroli Portofino Forte, which is a more intense version of the original.  Interestingly, I found this to be so similar in taste, yet on my skin, it wore beautifully!  To create Forte, Tom Ford has made strategic changes in its ingredients that are distinctly more luxurious.  The sweeter orange has been switched out for a more tart bitter orange; and a herbal accord of basil, rosemary and tarragon replaces the lighter orange blossom heart.  And for an added kick, Forte features a supple leather base paired with aromatic sandalwood.  The combination brings Neroli Portofino Forte to life on my skin, and it feels sexy and intimate.  And to complete the haute impression, the flacon is marked with a golden plate on the front.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Forte has slightly stronger sillage than Neroli Portofino Acqua, but still stays fairly close to the skin, wafting up in waves as my body heat lifts it throughout the day.  This makes it perfect for layering with other fragrances – I like its grounding effect on White Suede [reviewed here], and my other floral fragrances.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Forte is already out at Tom Ford counters in Singapore, and retails at SGD445 for 50ml.  Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua will only be available from July, and will be priced at SGD230 for 50ml.  For your reference, the original Tom Ford Neroli Portofino is priced at SGD330 for 50ml.

xo Linda

This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua & Neroli Portofino Forte appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum

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Tom Ford Orchid Soleil eau de parfumTom Ford Orchid Soleil eau de parfum

When I first laid eyes on this new fragrance, I was instantly drawn and in love… and when I heard its name, I knew it was going to be something very special indeed.  And so it was, Tom Ford Orchid Soleil is the latest brand of sexy and it is irresistible!

Tom Ford Orchid Soleil eau de parfum

Tom Ford Orchid Soleil comes in the iconic flattened fluted glass bottle that has been the signature of the cult classic Black Orchid [reviewed here].  Whilst the former is dark and mysterious, the latest Orchid Soleil is dressed in a luminous pink gold, adorned with an embossed golden plaque in the front and completed by a golden cord around the neck.  The glass has a translucency to it which shows off the sparkling liquid contained within, a visual representation of the sensual skin-like quality of the brew.

The original inspiration for this, Tom Ford Black Orchid, is my personal favourite fragrance of all time.  It is something I reach for when I want to make an impression, both night and day, boardroom and nightclub alike.  I feel confident and feminine, and luxuriously chic all at once.  And even though I enjoyed the summer Soleil Blanc [reviewed here], it was not quite as enduring as Black Orchid.  After awhile, I found Soleil Blanc a little too sweet and overt for any occasion other than poolside lounging and day outings.  To take it down to the night, I found myself layering the two… that was until Orchid Soleil arrived.

Tom Ford Orchid Soleil eau de parfum

My very first impression upon spritzing Orchid Soleil on my skin, was sublime bliss.  This was the stuff of my dreams, the perfect marriage between Black Orchid and Soleil Blanc!  It has the beautiful warm, sensual, sun-drenched quality of Soleil Blanc… and the creamy spiciness of Black Orchid in its dry down.  Orchid Soleil starts out with a burst of spicy pink pepper, tart bitter orange and aromatic cypress.  This gives way quickly to a big fragrant heart of red spider lily and tuberose, the latter taking prominence against a creamy base of chestnut cream, vanilla and patchouli.  A hint of orchid weaves the entire fragrance together, reminding us of its parentage.

Tom Ford Orchid Soleil has an impressive sillage, and lasts a good 8 hours on me before fading gently.  I have been wearing it ever since I got it, and it surprises me because some days it feels more Soleil Blanc whilst other days it feels more like a day-version of Black Orchid.  It is this duality that makes Orchid Soleil so interesting to me, and I can’t seem to tire of it.  Tom Ford Orchid Soleil will be available in Singapore from August, and priced from SGD127  (30ml) onwards.

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad

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Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color QuadTom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad

Sometimes it pays to take time to appreciate the finer things in life, and it is definitely the case with Tom Ford makeup.  The recent batch of Eye Color Quads that were released earlier this year included some interesting mix of shades, and I had reviewed 3 of them so far here, here and here.  The quad that I would like to discuss today is perhaps the most understated of the group, but is one that I found most straightforward and chic.

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad

Tom Ford Starry Night is a cool-toned palette that is predominated by a dark navy blue accompanied by several shades of grey/silver.  I personally feel this is a nicer and better version of Ice Queen [reviewed here], which was a limited edition palette from Holiday 2013; and a good alternative if Titanium Smoke is too black/harsh for you.

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad

The palette has a nice balance of shade intensities; and a mix of satin, shimmer and glitter shades… which is all that I can ever ask of any palette!

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad

Clockwise from top left of palette, the shades are:

  • Pale bluish grey with a satin finish.  This shade is very light, and works best as an inner corner highlight or even under the brow bone for dimension.
  • Bright silver glitter shade with a translucent base.  This is not just a plain silver glitter but has some light pink and blue mixed in there as well.
  • Dark navy blue with a soft matte finish and some sparse light blue micro-shimmers.  It is admittedly a little disappointing in the color pay-off, but I had no problems applying with a brush.
  • Medium-dark cool-toned grey with soft micro-shimmers.  I don’t usually like to wear grey all over my lids, but this one I really liked, and found it a nice blending shade.

And here are the corresponding swatches:

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad swatches

Here is another look at those shimmers:

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad swatches

What I really enjoyed about Starry Night is how straightforward it is, it doesn’t pretend to be arty farty nor does it attempt to be one of those mass pleaser.  Instead, it is designed for one single purpose, which is a silvery blue smokey eye.  There is enough in the quad to allow you to either go all out or dial things back down, but in either case, you will still look stunning wherever you go.

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad EOTD

I wore Starry Night to work, and for the purpose of corporate wear, I kept things minimal.  For the eye look above, I first dusted the pale blue-grey all over my lid as a base color, followed by the medium grey on the outer half of my lid.  Thereafter, I added just a dash of the navy to the outer corner, blending upwards into the crease.  To finish, I dabbed a little of the glitter onto the middle for a bit of pop.

Tom Ford Starry Night Eye Color Quad Makeup look

And voila, the full look in context.  I think the appeal of these Tom Ford Eye Color Quads is that each is a nicely curated selection of shades that work well with each other. I used to believe that Tom Ford offers the best quality, and at the price point, we should definitely expect that.  There are plenty of excellent options out there that you can always deconstruct your own dupe.  But credit should always be given to the originator of the first idea… as with Van Gogh, Tom Ford’s Starry Night will always be one of those classic palettes that deserve a special place in any makeup lover’s collection.

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad

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Tom Ford Eye Color Quad HoneymoonTom Ford Eye Color Quad Honeymoon

Aaahhh…. this beauty is finally mine!!  Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad is that unicorn that was soldout globally from the day it was launched, and it just reappeared back in Singapore recently.  Somehow it’s gotten so elevated in the midst of the hype, I couldn’t bring myself to touch it, thinking I still need to take a gazillion more shots.  Finally, I thought to heck with perfection, and dived in.  And gosh, why on earth did I wait so long?!

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Honeymoon

I must admit that even as a self-proclaimed Tom Ford die-hard, I don’t always use my Tom Ford stuff on a regular basis.  With all the new releases constantly needing reviewing, I am never on any one palette for very long.  Even though I am playing with some of the best, coming back to Tom Ford feels like reuniting with a loved one after a long separation.  Even though I am a natural skeptic and often have contrarian views, this time I believe we have a real winner with Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad!

Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad

With its warm-toned copper-reddish color story, Honeymoon is very much reminiscent of Burnished Amber, the latter being one of those cult-favourites that was discontinued last year.  I have reviewed Burnished Amber here, and have a swatch comparison for you below.  But if you have never fallen for Burnished Amber, or missed the boat on that one, you can rejoice now because Honeymoon is a much more wearable palette and the shades are far easier to work with!

Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad closeup

If you notice the TF embossed onto the center of each pan, this is similar to Nude Dip [reviewed here] which is one of the rare wet and dry formulas within the Tom Ford family.  You don’t really need to use this one wet though, because the pigmentation is top-notch, and so smooth blending is a breeze.

Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad swatches

From left to right, the shades are:

  • Top left of palette – light copper filled with pale golden micro shimmers
  • Top right of palette – medium bronze with a metallic sheen and a touch of pale pink and golden micro shimmers
  • Bottom right of palette – dark plummy brown with a satin finish and some sparse violet micro shimmers
  • Bottom left of palette – medium reddened copper with a metallic sheen and a sprinkling of pink micro shimmers

And as promised, here is a comparison vis-a-vis Burnished Amber:

Tom Ford Honeymoon vs Burnished Amber comparison swatches

As you can see, the 2 palettes are quite  different indeed, with Burnished Amber distinctly more red and Honeymoon more plum.  The finish with Honeymoon has more sheen and shimmer than Burnished Amber, which I personally prefer.

Right now as I am working on this, I am reminded of a couple other palettes that have been released this Fall 2016.  So I thought I would swatch them side-by-side for you to compare!

Tom Ford Honeymoon vs SUQQU Rengazome vs Chanel Candeur et Experience comparison swatches

The more I examine Honeymoon, the more plum-based it appears to me, and not as red as I had initially thought, with Burnished Amber clouding my mind.  And as such, Honeymoon is rather different from either SUQQU Rengazome [reviewed here] or Chanel Candeur et Experience [reviewed here].

And here is an eye look using all 4 shades…

Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad EOTD

I must say that out of the 3 palettes mentioned above, Honeymoon was the easiest to work with.  This surprised me because all of the palettes are excellent, so you can imagine how much more superior the Tom Ford quality is to make a noticeable difference when applying.  For this eye look, I started by applying the medium bronze all over my lid, and then I added the dark plummy brown on the outer corner blending upwards into the crease.  Then, I layered on the reddened copper to the outer third of my lid – I like to add the accent shade last because I find the color stands out much better this way, and I know exactly where to place it once the other shades are down.  Next, I added a pop of the light copper to my inner corner, blending upwards towards the crease.  I added a touch of black liner because I wanted to take out the redness from the eye look, but realized afterwards I didn’t need it at all, and really should have just kept to tightlining.

Here is the full look in context:

Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye color Quad makeup look

I am absolutely in love with Tom Ford Honeymoon Eye Color Quad, and all the hype around it is real.  Each of the shades are beautiful, and so easy to work with.  Stocks should be back, if you are still hunting for this, do pop by your nearest Tom Ford counter!

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo for Fall 2016 – Full Swatches!

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Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo for Fall 2016Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo for Fall 2016

Did you all catch the Tom Ford AW2016 runway show on their website?  In case you didn’t, the video is still available… but what is more important to know is that the Fall 2016 collection is finally *officially* launched!  Even though the collection had already shipped out in the US weeks ago, we have been embargoed from public release until now… and so, I am excited to be able to show you complete swatches of all the 8 Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo!

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo for Fall 2016

Just in case you are wondering, the Fall collection this year will revolve mainly around the Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo.  There are a couple of Cream Color for Eyes that will be making a reappearance and joining the permanent line-up.  They are Pink Haze [first reviewed here] and Platinum [reviewed here].  In addition, there will be some fresh base products next month, as well as the exclusive Orchid Collection and new Soleil Collection.

Now, let’s turn to the topic at hand today – Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo!

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo for Fall 2016

The Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo are absolute genius in my opinion.  The cap on top pulls off to reveal a swivel-up pencil-tipped Lip Shaper, and the bottom pulls out to reveal a slim full coverage lipstick!  The entirety is sexily packaged in Tom Ford’s signature deep mahogany with gold detailing.  There are 8 gorgeous shades available, and here are the complete swatches:

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo – Lip Shapers

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - Lip Shaper swatches

I don’t always wear a lip liner, and when I do need one, I often find that I don’t have the correct matching shade.  With as extensive a lipstick wardrobe as any decent makeup junkie would have, it is impossible to have as many lip pencils to go.  So imagine my delight when every one of Tom Ford’s Lip Contour Duo comes with the perfect matching Lip Shaper!

These are so much more than just a regular pencil liner… because you know, how dull would that be?!  Tom Ford’s Lip Shapers are creamy, swivel-up and retractable pointed tips that not only contain some gorgeous shades to match their accompanying lipsticks, but are also shimmery!  With the lipsticks as slender as these Lip Contour Duos, you don’t really need something to outline the contours of your lips.  However, where I often like to use it is on my cupid’s bow to accurately define the heart-shaped arch of my lips, and with these built-in shimmers, the Lip Shapers double up as highlighters as well!  You could also go over the lipstick with the Lip Shapers, filling in the center of the lips for additional sparkle.  There are a few shades (e.g. 6-Devil Inside & 8-Make Me) where the Lip Shaper is a shade lighter than the Lipstick, allowing you to create an ombre effect.  And with the creamy texture, it is easy to blend out without fear of leaving a dreadful ring after eating or drinking!

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo – Lipstick

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - Lip Color swatches

I had numbered the swatches according to the numbers that are printed on the Lip Contour Duos, but I realize the online site does not list them numerically.  So for your reference, here are their full provocative names and a brief color description:

  1. Public Display – medium warm-toned brown with a strong yellow-undertone
  2. Fling It On – light warm-toned pink-beige
  3. Dream Obscene – light-medium neutral-toned mauve that pulls purple on me
  4. Show It Off – medium-dark rosewood
  5. I’ll Teach You – brightened fuchsia
  6. Devil Inside – brightened vermillion
  7. Secret Escort – brightened cool-toned berry red
  8. Make Me – dark burgundy that manages to stays much more elegant boudoir than vampy

Tom Ford lipsticks have a cult-like following for good reason, they are often creamy and luxurious-feeling on the lips, and the color is richly saturated.  There have been many different textures that have been released over the years, and if you are wondering how much more different they can get, then you may be surprised by these yet!  The Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo lipsticks come in a slender tube that perfectly fits the contours and narrow width of my lips.  They also are nicely opaque in 1 swipe despite having a bit more slip to them than the classic Tom Ford Lip Colors.  The finish is a very elegant and flattering satin shine that plumps up the lines on my lips.

Here are a few makeup looks featuring 4 shades of Tom Ford Lip Color Duos…

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - I'll Teach You MOTD

I’ll Teach You is one of those shade I love to reach for when I feel just a bit tired, because it instantly perks me up!

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - Show it Off MOTD

Show It Off surprised me because I wasn’t expecting it to be this sombre, but it actually worked quite well, with equal parts of plum and brown in the color mix.  Very elegant, daily work-appropriate color!

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - Dream Obscene MOTD

Dream Obscene is one of those universal pleasers – very girlie, slightly coy pink that goes equally well with a nude look or a smokey eye.  Wear it everyday, anytime.

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo - Secret Escort MOTD

Secret Escort turned out more red than I had imagined from the swatch, but the cool undertones keep it wearable for me.  This is a day-appropriate red, and one that I will love and hoard for a long time!

I found these Tom Ford Lip Contour Duos to have excellent lasting power despite the significant slip in the lipsticks, lasting me through several coffees and cups of water and even lunch.  The shine does fade away though, and I found that the formula leaves my lips feeling slightly dry at the end of the day.  However, nothing a slick of balm can’t fix, and I am simply addicted to the beautiful selection of shades!

Have you picked up any of these Tom Ford Lip Contour Duos, or got your eye on any of the shades yet?!

xo Linda

This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Orchid Collection – Velvet Bloom Powder & Velvet Orchid Lip Color

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tom ford orchid collection velvet orchidtom ford orchid collection velvet orchid

Tom Ford Black Orchid is a legacy for the brand, and holds a special place in my heart… because it was Tom Ford’s first debut fragrance, and my very first purchase from the brand [read here].  Today, Tom Ford celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the iconic Black Orchid, and introduces a limited edition capsule collection of fragrances and makeup titled Tom Ford Orchid Collection.

tom ford orchid collection velvet orchid

The Tom Ford Orchid Collection centers around the Black Orchid Eau de Parfum and its softer sister Velvet Orchid.  Everything is packaged in the iconic dark fluted casing with golden trims – black for the Black Orchid inspired pieces, and purple for the Velvet Orchid inspired ones.  Apart from repromoting the existing fragrances, Tom Ford has created 2 unique Nightbloom Powders and Lip Colors, and today I’d like to show you Velvet Bloom Powder and Velvet Orchid Lip Color.

tom ford velvet bloom powder

Tom Ford Velvet Bloom Powder is a luminous cool-toned light pink blush with plenty of silver micro-shimmers.  Unlike the typical Tom Ford Cheek Color blushes [reviewed here], Velvet Bloom is not as pigmented nor does it have the sumptuous almost-creamy texture.  Instead, it feels more like the Bronzing Powder [Terra reviewed here], which is stiff in the pan and lighter in pigmentation.  Regardless, it is buildable; and even with the shimmers, blends out to a natural luminous glow.  I prefer wearing it as a highlighter, topping off another blush underneath.  To wear it on its own, I suggest using a dense goat-haired brush like the Tom Ford Cheek brush and dab on.

tom-ford-velvet-orchid-lip-color

Along with Velvet Bloom, Tom Ford has also designed the Velvet Orchid Lip Color.  This is a beautiful medium mauve-plum with iridescent lilac, silver and pink shimmers to cast a frosty sheen.  It has one of the best smooth-creamy texture that I’ve encountered in a Tom Ford Lip Color, and is easily opaque in a single swipe.  My lips tend to get easily irritated with shimmers, but these are so fine they do not bother me at all.  It also has considerable longevity for a lip color that has as much slip as it does, surviving through my morning coffee without any fading off!  This is a warm-toned color, but the shimmers cast a cooling tint to it, making this an easy-to-wear day-suitable shade for many skin tones.

Here are the swatches of Velvet Bloom & Velvet Orchid:

tom ford velvet bloom powder & velvet orchid lip color swatches

And to put things into context, here is a complete makeup look featuring Velvet Bloom on my cheeks and Velvet Orchid on my lips.

Makeup look featuring Tom Ford Velvet Bloom powder & Velvet Orchid Lip Color

I usually have problems getting blushes to show up in my motd shots, and so it is unsurprising to me that Velvet Bloom is all but invisible here.  But if you take a closer look, you will be able to see a pale pink flush at the sides of my cheek bones where I applied it.  On darker skin tones, Velvet Bloom should show up better.  For me, I like it as a blushilighter to top off another more pigmented blush on the apples of the cheeks for that glow.  Velvet Orchid Lip Color is an elegant, everyday-wearable shade that still managed to remain interesting, and I highly recommend everyone to get it!

The Tom Ford Nightbloom Powders (Velvet Bloom & Black Bloom) retail for SGD114 each, and the Lip Colors (Velvet Orchid & Black Orchid) retail for SGD84 each.  There is also a very special Perfume Lalique Edition made of pure black crystal designed by Lalique.  Other items in the collection in crude a Black Orchid Hydrating Emulsion, Perfume Atomiser, and Solid Perfume.  Check them out at TANGS Orchard and Robinsons Raffles City now!

xo Linda

This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extraits Verts

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Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extracts VertsTom Ford Private Blend Les Extracts Verts

It is not everyday that high end fragrance companies turn out a new scent, and this year Tom Ford seems to be on a roll.  After releasing 2 new flankers to the Neroli Portofino family [read here], and 2 inaugural fragrances to the Soleil collection [here and here]; now Tom Ford has gone and completely redefined the classical “green” note in perfumery with the brand new Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extraits Verts Collection.

Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extracts Verts

The Les Extraits Verts Collection consists of 3 exceptional fragrances featuring modern interpretations of the green olfactory family.  In true Tom Ford style, these are no ordinary light, crisp variations that mass labels like to churn out every spring/summer.  Surely the Fall launch date gives a hint of the darker, more glamorous brew awaiting us.  Tom Ford takes inspiration from the decadent ’70s, and returns the green note to its full luxurious Chypre-type origins.

Tom Ford Vert d’Encens is inspired by the rugged nature of the Corsican Coast, also fondly referred to as the Perfumed Isle.  It starts out with a fresh, crisp burst combined with a tinge of clean, almost-powdery sweetness.  But it doesn’t just stay that way as wafts of aromatic lavender and some vanilla weaves its way around the fragrance.  As the opening burst settles, something darker emerges… heliotrope interlaced with pine and fir balsam gives Vert d’Encens quite a different edginess.  A touch of dark chocolate softens the overall brew, and incense gives Vert d’Encens a smokey mysterious impression.

Tom Ford Vert D'Encens & Vert Boheme

Tom Ford Vert Bohème is Tom Ford’s interpretation of green at its most free-spirited.  It almost feels like a pun on a vintage-style women’s perfume that is soapy fresh and floral sweet.  It certainly starts out that way, with a bouquet of white florals and green buds, and feels cool on my skin.  White honeysuckle and narcissus predominates, their sweetness toned down slightly by magnolia and violet leaf bloom.  The impression of Lily of the Valley abounds, with a sensual white musky flavour.  Once Vert Bohème settles on my skin, a woody undergrowth starts to emerge with oakmoss and vetiver.  One of the most interesting ingredient to me, is the use of Galbanum, the “Queen of Green”, once prized and inspired great perfumers.  It once turned me off Chanel N.19, but lends Vert Bohème a touch of something earthy, green, and that element of cool that transcends an otherwise familiar scent into a Tom Ford creation.

Tom Ford Vert Des Bois

Tom Ford Vert des Bois is provocative woods at their most expressive.  There was a moment at the initial spritz that I wrinkled my nose, but as the fragrance unfurled, I found myself falling in love.  Vert des Bois starts out greener than its other 2 companions, unveiling an inventive ingredient in modern perfumery – poplar bud extract.  Spiked ouzo, olive tree leaves and plum intermingled with anise gives this fragrance its avant-garde green edge.  I sense patchouli and tonka bean at play as well.  At its heart, white floral jasmine is enriched with green mastic.  A spicy woody base of pepperwood, cistus, and oakwood absolute makes Vert des Bois unique in the Tom Ford Private Blend family, a smokey and spicier Oud Wood if you will… but much more modern and sexier in my opinion.

Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extraits Verts is one of the most interesting fragrance releases from the brand that I’ve experienced in a while.  All 3 are bold and complex, and my favourite is a mix of Vert Bohème and Vert des Bois.  On its own, Vert d’Encens wears beautifully on me… in fact I have it on for about 3 hours right now, and it is starting to smell like lipsticks and chocolates.  These are formulated as Eau de Parfum and have excellent sillage and longevity,

Tom Ford Private Blend Les Extraits Verts Collection is out now in Singapore at Tom Ford counters in TANGS Orchard, Robinsons Raffles City and the Tom Ford boutique at Marina Bay Sands.

xo Linda

This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Winter Soleil Eye & Cheek Palettes

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tom ford winter soleil warm-toned palettetom ford winter soleil warm-toned palette

Last Summer, Tom Ford institutionalized the Soleil Collection as a recurring seasonal makeup range for the luxurious bohemian.  Not one to be bound by natural climatic conditions, the Tom Ford woman travels the world in seek of sun and glamour.  So when the rest of the world is celebrating white Christmas, Tom Ford brings us the Winter Soleil Collection!  At the heart of the collection are 2 exquisite Eye & Cheek Palettes, conveniently labelled Warm & Cool… take a closer look with me today!

tom ford winter soleil warm-toned palette

The new Tom Ford Winter Soleil Eye & Cheek Palettes are elegantly housed in a palm-sized palette that resembles a clutch, with white enamel and gold trims.  Inside sits a generous-sized mirror, 4 eyeshadows, 1 blush and 1 highlighter.  I am glad Tom Ford did not try to fit a brush inside, which would have diminished the aesthetics of the packaging and raised the cost further.

tom ford winter soleil palettes

Fans of Tom Ford makeup will probably find the design of the eyeshadows familiar as they follow the best of Tom Ford Eye Quads.  Each contain a gorgeous satin all-over shade, soft-matte darkening / smoky shade, 1-2 pale glitters and an optional pale shimmer shade.  I had a really difficult time choosing between the warm and cool palettes, as they both look incredibly beautiful to me, and I can imagine using them time and time again.  In the end, I went with the Cool Palette, and here is a closeup look at the palette:

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Cool-toned Palette

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Cool Palette closeup

The corresponding swatches are:

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Cool Palette swatches

From left to right, the shades are:

  • Blusher on extreme left of palette – medium neutral- to cool-toned pink with a satin finish.  This one has a lovely silky texture that is easy to blend, and good pigmentation that lasts all day!
  • Eyeshadow on top left of palette – pale pink glitter with a translucent base
  • Eyeshadow on top right of palette – lavender glitter with a semi-translucent base.  Compared to the pink glitter, this one had a bit more colour to it.
  • Eyeshadow on bottom right of palette – dark eggplant with a matte finish and some sparse violet micro-shimmers.  This shade is slightly dry but had excellent pigmentation and was easy to apply with a brush.
  • Eyeshadow on bottom left of palette – killer shade!  Beautiful medium purple taupe with a satin finish but packed with silver and violet micro-shimmers that give it a metallic look.  Perfect all-over colour!
  • Highlighter on extreme right of palette – pinky-beige with a satin finish and a touch of frost.  Very well pigmented, gives a beautiful luminous look when buffed into the skin with a brush.

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Cool Palette eye makeup look

At first sight, the eyeshadow section of the Winter Soleil Cool Palette resembled a cross between Seductive Rose and Silvered Topaz [reviewed here], but I was surprised it is quite unique and not as purple as it first appeared.  I know taupe is universally well-liked, but it’s not often I find one that is special, and this one really impressed me.  The eggplant shade blends out so beautifully, and the addition of violet micro-shimmers give it depth without being too obtrusive and blingy.  The 2 glitter shades give us the option of layering up or taking things down a notch, and I love how Tom Ford glitters never look OTT and I don’t have to worry about fallout.

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Cool Palette full makeup look

Let me just say upfront, that the pricing (SGD250 / USD155) gave me serious sticker shock; but if you consider a typical Tom Ford eye quad retails for SGD119/USD82 and the cheek duo from Summer 2016 was SGD119/USD78; the new Winter Soleil Palette is roughly the combination of the 2.  I had a healthy dose of skepticism when I first dipped my brush into this palette, after all, this is not my first Tom Ford.  But after trying all the recent Christmas and Fall 2016 palettes, I definitely noticed a difference in quality.  Suffice to say, I am now on a mad hunt to get a hold of the other Warm palette!!

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Warm Palette

I managed to swatch this at a media preview,

Tom Ford Winter Soleil Warm Palette swatches

Between the 2, I think the Warm palette is perhaps more dupeable.  But if memory serves me well, the dark brown matte shade in the Warm palette felt smoother when swatching; and there are obviously less glitter shades.  Whichever you choose to go with, rest assured that the resultant look will be elegant and chic, and like me, you’ll find it hard to switch to anything else after this!

The Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2016 Collection will be launching in Singapore (counters at TANGS Orchard and Raffles City Robinsons) on 1 December.  Stocks of these Eye & Cheek Palettes are extremely limited, so better be there early to avoid disappointment!

xo LindaThis post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 – Full swatches of all 25 new shades!

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Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016

It’s that time of the year again, when we makeup lovers must make that impossible decision and choose our beaus.  Tom Ford has launched 25 new shades for its annual Lips and Boys collection, and returned 25 hot ones from previous years. These are highly covetable pocket-friendly miniature lipsticks from the luxury brand (0.07 oz/ 2.07 mL vs. 0.1 oz/3mL for the regular size), and limited edition hues that cannot be found anywhere else!

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016

This year’s Tom Ford Lips & Boys feature 5 cream finish lipsticks, 10 metallics, and 10 matte.  The hues seem to fall mostly in the purple – brown spectrum, although there are occasional pops of red and pink.  There are plenty of nudes and modern variations of neutrals to choose from, and here are the complete swatches!

The Creams

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - satin

There are 5 new cream lipsticks, in that classic cult-favourite formula that has won over so many fans.  Smooth, well pigmented, good coverage…. you name it.  The 5 new shades in running order are Alexander (bottom right), Bradley, Jack, Michell and Ashton (top left).

Here are the swatches:

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 cream swatches

The interesting thing about these new creams is that they all seem to pack some element of shimmers, although in fairly conservative amount.  They are all richly saturated with color, and the shimmers only provide a touch of dimension and shine without being too obtrusive.  The only exception is Alexander which has a touch more shimmer to it, but it works for that light pink shade, transforming it from being too nude.

The Metallics

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - metallic

There are 10 new metallic lip colors in this year’s Lips and Boys, and they’re all surprisingly wearable.  From left to right, the top row features – Elliott, Logan, Jon, Inigo and Ryan.  And the bottom row are – Travis, Aaron, Snowdon, Douglas and Graham.  The swatches are below.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 metallic swatches

I want every one of the 5 shown here!!  All the shades pull purple against my skin tone, which is a real stroke of luck.  As with previous metallics, these tended to sheer out and are much more wearable and less goth than it appears in the tube.  The only exception is Logan whach packs a healthy dose of intensity, and is a stunningly brilliant fuchsia!

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 metallic swatches

I consider this next group of metallics as modern neutrals.  Personally, I’ve always found brown lipsticks to be rather dated, especially if they are full on opaque and dark.  Travis is an interesting way to wear such a dark hue, and is in fact a very elegant and sophisticated shade!  Snowdon is one of the crowd favorites this year, and a wearable everyday staple!

The Mattes

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - matte

This year’s Lips and Boys feature 10 brand new matte lip colors, which is where I suspect many would gravitate towards.  I love Tom Ford’s matte formula, and so far there had only been 8 of them ever introduced, so these 10 are very special indeed.  Pictured in clockwise direction, starting from the top, are – Christiano, Thomas, Anderson, Jared, and Dylan.  Here are the swatches:

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - matte swatches 1

There are some lovely pinks and reds here for variety, and I think all of them are very wearable.  Personally, I am very drawn to Jared and Thomas, which is a direction I’ve been gravitating towards all year!

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - matte

The last 5 in this year’s Lips and Boys Collection are also matte.  I love how smooth and creamy they are, and they don’t leave my lips parched and wrinkled at the end of the day.  Pictured above in clockwise direction, starting from bottom right corner, are – Christopher, Nicholas, Evan, Dominic, and Ben.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 - matte swatches 2

I was surprisingly pleased to see how these turned out when swatched, because despite looking so dark and foreboding in the tube, they all turned out to be really wearable shades!  Ben manages to tread that precipice of dowdy opaque browns by packing some hints of red and yellow undertone to make it interesting, but could be a little too warm for some.  On the other hand, Christopher is one that I would wear in a heart beat, as with Dominic and Nicholas!

In addition to the 25 swatched here today, Tom Ford has also returned 25 shades from the previous collections.  The returning boys are: Julian, Collin, Cary, Ian, Addison, Flynn, James, Richard, Patrick, Michael, Justin, Giacomo, Rafael, Luciano, Leonardo, Jake, Austin, Eric, Hiro, Roberto, Alejandro, Tony, Joaquin, Drake and Alex.  Check out the swatches here and here.

The Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 Collection is out in stores now!  They retail for SGD50 each, and there is a beautiful collectible box that comes free with every 3 of these lipsticks purchased.  For the true collector, there is also a specialty trove that contains all 50 lipsticks available in very limited quantity.  I’d rather wish they produced a 25-piece set for sale though, with just the new shades from this year.

So tell me, which of these Boys have caught your eye?!

xo Linda

 

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Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lumiere & EDP

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tom-ford-velvet-orchid-lumiere-edptom-ford-velvet-orchid-lumiere-edp

I am really starting to build up a little cozy family of these fluted bottles.  Having reviewed the grand dame of them all – Black Orchid – as well as the summer stunner Soleil Blanc (which is not really a flanker); I feel the need to round things up with Tom Ford Velvet Orchid.  Featured in the recent Orchid Collection [see here], there is no better time than now, to take a moment and appreciate the beauty of Velvet Orchid!

tom-ford-velvet-orchid-lumiere-edp

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid EDP was first introduced in 2014, as a flanker to the original cult-favourite Black Orchid.  Back then, I was still heady from my intense love affair with Black Orchid [read here] and was unable to fully appreciate the new arrival.  The truth was, Velvet Orchid has so much in common with Black Orchid, that felt like an affront to my youthful puritanical heart.  It has the same warm exotic base notes, and a dense and spicy oriental feel.  Velvet Orchid is as punchy and enduring as Black Orchid, so to the extent that I was expecting one to be the more “day”-appropriate light-hearted version of the other, I was sadly mistaken.  Instead, Velvet Orchid has toned down the juicy cassis and replaced it with more white florals, positioning itself to be a more overtly “feminine” fragrance.

Velvet Orchid opens with a intoxicating burst of bergamot, mandarin, honey and rum.  A big floral heart of jasmine, rose and orchid swirls around; alongside orange blossom, narcissus, hyacinth and heliotrope.  The base is rich and gourmand with balsam, myrrh, labdanum, sandalwood, suede and vanilla.

The new Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lumiere takes things to a lighter, more graceful note, and is appropriately billed as an EDT.  Dressed in the same gorgeous purple fluted bottle, it’s main distinction is the frosted finish.  At first whiff, Velvet Orchid Lumiere feels very similar to the original EDP, but the thrilling notes of citrus is made more apparent and the brew takes on a slightly translucent quality that feels fresher.  For this new Lumiere, Tom Ford has taken a lighter-handed approach with the florals, streamlining things and removing the narcissus, hyacinth and heliotrope.  In a complementary fashion, the base has lightened up its load of balsam, labdanum and suede.  Everything is made more delicate with Lumiere, and it lasts about 6-8 hours on me before fading gently (in contrast Velvet Orchid EDP lasts me all day!).

For those who did not take to the original Black Orchid, preferring something more floral and feminine, but still looking for a standout fragrance, Tom Ford Velvet Orchid is the perfect gift.  But for those who are looking for a less sweet and more light-hearted way to experience this distinctive fragrance, Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Lumiere is perfect.  For me, it is what I’ve been wearing every day for the past few weeks since I got hold of it.  It is the perfect way to round up my little family of fluted Signature Blends.

xo Linda This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Face Focus 2016

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Tom Ford Face Focus 2016 collectionTom Ford Face Focus 2016 collection

I find myself in a little bit of a time squeeze right now, as the year is rapidly winding down and I still have several launches from this year that I have yet to share with you.  As a real Tom Ford fan, it feels a little strange that I have taken this long to share today’s topic with you.  But in my attempts to get you an early peek on the Winter Soleil collection [see here] and those Lips & Boys [here], these permanent releases had to take a back seat.  In any case, today we shall sit back and examine the new Face Focus 2016 collection from Tom Ford.

Tom Ford Face Focus 2016 collection

Tom Ford releases a new foundation every other year, and the last launch was the matte, full coverage Traceless Perfecting Foundation [reviewed here].  Living in humid Singapore, I’m always on for a matte foundation, and was really looking forward to the new Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer [SGD128].

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer

In many ways, I found it refreshing that Tom Ford had chosen to package its new Waterproof Foundation and Concealer in a flat squeeze tube rather than the usual hefty bottle.  This is so much more convenient for traveling, and even for applying makeup on the go.  If it was ever imaginable to design a chic and luxurious looking squeeze tube, Tom Ford has managed it.  I like that there is a thoughtful transparent strip near the end of the tube so you can see when you are running out, and also allows you to see the shade contained inside (in case you have a few that you mix to get your perfect match).

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer swatches

There are 9 shades available in Singapore, and as you may have noticed from the swatches above, most of the shades seem to run rather close to each other in terms of color intensity, with just subtle differences in undertones between them.  I am using the shade Linen, which is a little light for me right now when compared against my current roughly NC20-25 skin tone.  Lately I’ve been gravitating towards a more natural match, but on days when I feel like going fairer like most Asians like to pretend, Linen works well.  Otherwise, Ivory would probably be a closer shade for me.

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer before and after comparison

The first thing I noticed about Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer is that the texture is incredibly thin, not as watery as the likes of Dior Nude Air [see here] or Shu Uemura Skin:Fit Foundation [here]; but certainly thinner than its predecessor Traceless Perfecting Foundation.  It applies silkily, but goes on best over very moist skin surface.  For those with dry skin like me, I highly recommend applying it over a layer of hydrating base such as the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Nourishing Milk [review coming soon].  Once it is on, Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation is absolutely budge-proof, does not crease nor fade nor oxidize throughout my longest days, and is completely heat and sweat resistant!  It is incredibly lightweight, you will not feel it drying out your skin nor weighing it down at all!

Contrary to its claims, I found the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation to be somewhat light in coverage, though buildable to medium.  As you can see from the half-faced comparison shot above, any blemishes and dark circles are still visible, and a separate concealer is definitely required for me.  What I really appreciate though, is that for a very matte and waterproof foundation, Tom Ford has managed to create something that still looks skin-like, with moulds to the contours of the face and throws off radiant light to make my face look alive!

Tom Ford Shimmer Shot

One of the most highly sought after item(s) from this collection is the Tom Ford Shimmer Shot [SGD60].  Unlike the other items discussed today, these are limited edition of course.  They come in a shortened round bottle with a twist-up pump dispenser that resembles the Traceless Perfecting Foundation.  There are 2 shades available:

Tom Ford Shimmer Shot swatches

Spin Spin Sugar is a very pale pink with a frosty finish and plenty of micro shimmers; and Lust for Life is a metallic bronze with its own fair share of micro shimmers.  These are designed to be mixed into any Tom Ford liquid foundation for a more luminous finish; and may also be used to highlight the high points of the face and bring out those cheek bones.  I don’t usually like to add liquid highlighters to my foundation as they tend to make me look even more drawn out, but I found a tiny pearl drop of Spin Spin Sugar does indeed transform the look of my foundation.  It adds a subtle luminosity to my face, pairs especially well with matte foundations; and I also sometimes apply to my cheeks underneath my foundations.  Lust for Life is a nice one to have if you are heading somewhere sunny (perhaps Australia?) this winter, and need something to add back some glow.

Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel

Tom Ford is all about that handsome brow, and to expand their brow offerings further is the new Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel [SGD65]!  These come with a small spoolie applicator that works well to comb the product through the brow hairs, even on my rather narrow and sparse brows.  The formula contains some fiber to fill in and create the illusion of fuller brows.  There are 4 shades available

Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel swatches

Finally, I just want to draw your attention to the new Tom Ford Angled Brow Brush [SGD88].  I am a big fan of Tom Ford brushes because they are truly high quality, incredibly soft against the skin yet perform beautifully.  They never lose their shape after washing, and so far I’ve never encountered any shedding!  This Angled Brow Brush is very thin though wide, allowing you to be very precise with the outline of your brows and draw life-like hair to fill in sparse brows.  I also tried using it as a liner brush for my eyes, and it also worked beautifully!!

Tom Ford Angled Brow Brush

The Tom Ford Face Focus 2016 Collection is available in stores now.  Definitely check out the Shimmer Shots while they are still available as these are limited edition.  If you have oily skin and / or have problems with humidity affecting your foundation, you will find the new Waterproof Foundation and Concealer quite helpful.  I have really enjoyed using the Fiber Brow Gel for the past couple of months, and I suggest you check it out too.  The Angled Brow Brush is a bit decadent for its stated purpose, but if you double it up as a eye liner brush as well, it’s well worth the investment!

xo LindaThis post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Solar Exposure Eye & Cheek Palette

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Tom Ford Solar Exposure Eye & Cheek PaletteTom Ford Solar Exposure Eye & Cheek Palette

Tom Ford is hitting us hard and fast this year… it is still February the last I checked, and already pre-orders for the Summer 2017 collection have started!  Yet here in Singapore, we are still patiently waiting for Spring to launch.  I was not expecting to see another Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette so soon, barely 2 months after the sell out Cool and Warm palettes [see here], so I must really applaud the Tom Ford team for listening to their fans and giving us the perfect neutral palette – Solar Exposure!

Tom Ford Solar Exposure Eye & Cheek Palette

Tom Ford Solar Exposure is the 3rd clutch-sized Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette, and comes in the beautiful white enamel casing with golden trims.  I was recently reminded of the older square-ish palettes that Tom Ford used to release for their summer collections [this and this], and am so eternally grateful that they had switched over to this more compact design that is easier to hold in the hands, and much more convenient to travel with.  I spent 2 weeks in Europe last month, and found myself reaching for the Warm palette most of the time because it was just so easy to use!

Tom Ford Soleil Eye & Cheek palettes

However, much as I enjoyed the Warm palette and was able to make it work without too much effort, I did find the shades to be much too warm for my cooler skin tone.  In contrast, I personally preferred the Cool palette as the shades were more flattering.  The reason it did not sell out as quickly as the Warm palette was the high amount of shimmers contained in 3 out of the 4 eyeshadow shades.  Also, there was a huge bifurcation between the darkest and lighter shades that made it a little hard to dial back on the drama for everyday wear.

Tom Ford Solar Exposure Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette

In contrast, many saw Solar Exposure as the perfect marriage of its 2 predecessors, with less shimmer shades and a easier-to-wear range of neutral shades.  Here are some swatches for you to decide for yourself:

Tom Ford Solar Exposure swatches

From left to right, the shades are:

  • Blush – medium warm-toned coral-pink with champagne and pink micro-shimmers  that leave a luminous finish on the cheeks
  • Eyeshadow on top left of palette – pale gold with a satin finish
  • Eyeshadow on top right of palette – rose gold fine glitter with a semi-sheer base.  Shown here are multiple (3-4) swipes for the color to show up.
  • Eyeshadow on bottom right of palette – cool-toned blackened brown with a soft matte finish.  This shade is the least pigmented on this palette, and required 5-6 swipes here.  Regardless, it worked well on the lid, allowing the intensity to be slowly built up for a greater range of eye looks.
  • Eyeshadow on bottom left of palette – medium taupe with a strong frosty sheen
  • Highlighter – pale pink with a frosty finish

In general, I found the textures of Solar Exposure to be slightly drier and less buttery than what I’ve grown accustomed to at Tom Ford.  That did not affect the performance of the shades, nor the pigmentation, with the exception of the dark brown eyeshadow shade.  The overall effect is softer, more suited for day wear yet still capable of dialling up the drama as needed.

I think Solar Exposure is sufficiently different from both the Warm and Cool palettes to be distinct on its own.  However, I thought it resembled Nude Dip [reviewed here] in terms of the hues and resultant look on the eye, so I did a side-by-side swatch comparison:

Tom Ford Solar Exposure vs Nude Dip

There are some subtle differences in tone and depth of color, with Solar Exposure pulling even cooler than Nude Dip.  And of course Solar Exposure has 1 glitter shade that is slightly sheer whereas Nude Dip does not have any stand-alone glitter shade at all.  Regardless, there is enough similarity between the two that if you have one I don’t think you necessarily need the other.

Tom Ford Solar Exposure Eye Makeup Look

For this eye look, I started with the taupe all over my lid, followed by the dark brown on the outer corner blending inwards and upwards towards the crease.  Next I dabbed some of the glitter on the center of my lid, and popped the pale gold on the inner corner.  Finished with a bit of black liner [I used Noir Petrole] on the outer half of my upper and lower lash line for a bit more definition, and blended out the lower lash line with the dark brown shade from the palette.

Tom Ford Solar Exposure Full Makeup Look

I think the eyeshadow quad within Solar Exposure is very pretty and perfectly suited for those with a cooler skin tone.  It is so easy to use, the shade selection and range of finishes make the entire eye look really intuitive.  However, what makes Solar Exposure truly unique in my opinion is the combination of those eyeshadows with the gorgeous blush and highlighter.  The blush is slightly warmer toned but it works out to be a lovely natural flush that still manages to be brightening and pretty for spring.  The highlighter perfectly complements the blush and leaves a soft luminous effect on the skin and brings out my cheek bones in a soft and natural way.

Tom Ford Solar Exposure Eye & Cheek Palette is out in counters now.  Have you already checked it out?

xo Linda

This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

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Tom Ford Spring 2017 Shade & Illuminate Lips + Cheeks – full swatches!

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Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips and Shade & Illuminate Cheeks for Spring 2017Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips and Shade & Illuminate Cheeks for Spring 2017

Tom Ford Spring 2017 Color Collection finally landed in Singapore!  It has been a very long wait as the collection shipped in the US more than a month ago.  As an avid fan, I was very tempted to place an order online, but I wanted to swatch and try them out for myself before making a decision.  In case you share the same reservations as me, here are some swatches and first impressions on the new collection!

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips and Shade & Illuminate Cheeks for Spring 2017

This Spring 2017 collection builds upon Tom Ford’s infamous Shade and Illuminate palette, and extends the ability to define & sculpt both the cheeks and lips using color.  There are 2 new Shade and Illuminate Cheek palettes and 6 new Shade and Illuminate Lips to choose from, and they are all limited edition.

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks for Spring 2017

Some of my Instagram followers had pointed out that these Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks resembled the Bobbi Brown Cheek Glow Palettes [see here], but having seen these Tom Ford palettes in person, I must say they are quite different.  The new Shade and Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate (top) and Scintillate (bottom) are much more akin to the original Shade and Illuminate sculpting and contouring palettes in terms of texture.  These palettes contain a sheer cream highlight on top and a cream blush on the bottom.  There is substantial slip in there, so it will sheer out, but it blends out easily for a natural lit-from-within look.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Cheeks swatches

Given their tendency to sheer out, I found it hard to swatch these new Shade and Illuminate Cheek palettes.  Scintillate is the warmer of the 2, and features a gorgeous golden shimmery highlighter that blends in beautifully with the coral blush.  Sublimate is more neutral in tone, and the rose coloured blush seems more pigmented than Scintillate.  The matching highlighter seems much more pink in the pan but applies nearly translucent on my NC25 skin tone.  It also does not contain shimmer but leaves a slight sheen on the skin.  Worn on their own, the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheek palettes require quite a bit of layering to build up color unless you are incredibly fair.  They do leave a healthy luminous flush though, and can be layered with one a powdered blush (more on that in a bit).

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips for Spring 2016

Moving over to the lips, Tom Ford takes ombre lips to a higher level with the new Shade & Illuminate Lips.  There are several lip pigments from various brands to choose from this season, but Tom Ford’s rendition is unique in that they come in palettes instead of sticks, and they’re technically not powder but a gelee texture.  At first touch, they feel like cream, though with much less slip than their cheek counterparts discussed above, and also less than what you would imagine is typical of a cream eyeshadow.  I would almost describe the sensation as a very dense mousse, because when it applies onto the skin/lips, the finish turns velvety.

Each palette features 2 hues – a lighter or brighter shade paired with a complementary darker shade.  Here are the full swatches:

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips swatches - part 1

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips swatches - part 2

All of the swatches shown here are single swipes!  So it gives you a very good idea of the level of pigmentation and smooth application that you can expect to get from these Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips.  I have tried both the offerings from Dior and Lancome [see here] this season as well, and these Tom Fords beat the competition hands down.  They wear incredibly well on the lips, and do not require a layer of balm to be applied before hand in order for the pigment to adhere to.  These are also the most comfortable in their category, and I would compare the comfort level to Tom Ford’s matte lip colors.

Tom Ford Cheek Color for Spring 2017

Along with the limited edition Spring 2017 collection, Tom Ford has also refreshed its Cheek Color range.  There are now 3 new shades – Inhibition (left), Gratuitous (middle), and Disclosure (right).

Tom Ford Cheek Color Inhibition, Gratuitous, Disclosure swatches

There has been some changes to the existing shades too, with most featuring a more refined pearl and much less (even no) shimmer.  Also, Savage has been discontinued, so if you’re a hard core collector, be sure to grab it wherever you still see it.  I swatched 3 of the newly reformulated shades for your reference:

Tom Ford Wicked, Ravish, Flush cheek color swatches

As a point of reference, I had reviewed the old Wicked here, which you may notice has some cool shimmers.

I have a couple of those Shade and Illuminate Lips in shades Impulse and Saboteur, and Shade and Illuminate Cheek in Sublimate; which I plan on putting through a proper test before reviewing in greater detail.  However, I will be traveling next week, so I may not be able to get it out as quickly as I’d like.  In the meantime, please feel free to hop on over to Sabrina’s exhaustive post here, and also Mona’s lovely review here.

Tom Ford Spring 2017 Color Collection is now available at the Tom Ford counter at Robinsons Raffles City in Singapore, and will be released at TANGS Orchard from 2 March.

xo Linda

 

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Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Saboteur, Impulse and Sublimate… review & dupes!

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Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse & SublimateTom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse & Sublimate

I’ve been wanting to get this review out to you for a long time , but time has been a real scarce resource lately.  With all the hype surrounding new lip offerings from the Summer 2017 Soleil Collection that has launched elsewhere in the world, I started having some doubts about the usefulness of another post on these Shade & Illuminate offerings from Tom Ford’s Spring 2017 Collection.  I had already swatched & provided my impressions on the entire collection last month, if you missed it, head on over here to check it out.  Judging from the responses to my posts, it seems that the most popular pieces from the collection are Saboteur, Impulse & Sublimate… and so I thought it might be interesting to show you a few different ways to wear them, and some potential dupes!

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse & Sublimate

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips are a novel concept for lip colors, they consist of 2 complementary lip pigments housed in a slim palette the same size as their brow and cheek palettes.  Out of all the lip pigments that I’ve tried this season, Tom Ford’s version is the creamiest and most comfortable to wear, and does not leave my lips feeling parched and stripped at the end of the day.  The shades are chosen specifically to create an ombre lip, and could be worn either with the darker shade on the outside and lighter shade in the center; or the other way around.  One gives the impression of fuller lips whilst the latter creates the illusion of a smaller cherry pout.  Of course, you can choose to wear the shades on their own or blended together for a 3rd color.  So each palette is not only a single lipstick, but gives you the freedom to create 5 different looks!

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Lips Impulse & Saboteur

When I first started looking at these Shade & Illuminate lips, I didn’t think I’d fall in love with Impulse as hard as I did.  Saboteur was the one that I knew straight off the bat that I’d get, and when I first applied it on my lips I just knew it was the one for me.  But on a day-to-day basis, I found Impulse to be the one that I’d reach for.  Even when I was dressing up recently for a formal dinner, I instinctively went for Impulse over all the multitude of offerings that I had on hand.

Some lip swatches of Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips in Impulse:

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse lip swatches

  1. Left shade of Impulse worn all over lip
  2. Right shade of Impulse worn all over lip
  3. Left shade of Impulse all over lip + right shade layered in center of lip

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Cheeks Sublimate & Lips Impulse

Here is the full makeup look featuring Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips in Impulse, worn in a 4th way, i.e. right shade of Impulse all over lip followed by the left shade layered on in the center.  Because my lip area is rather small, I often feel ombre coloration does not show up quite so well in pictures.  Also partly because the hues in Impulse are so similar in tone and intensity, layering them in the center does not create quite as distinct a look.  I’m also wearing Shade & Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate, and Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Color in Black Oyster.

Given how many Tom Ford lipsticks I’ve accumulated over the years, I thought I’d run through my stash to see if there are any dupes.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse left swatch comparisons

I don’t typically collect nudes and so I struggled a little to find a dupe for the left side shade of Impulse.  It belongs to the pinky nude family, but is not quite so pink and instead looks rather beige in the pan.  The closest I own is First Time (reviewed here) which is part of the Lip Color Matte range, but it contains a bit more brown than Impulse.  Frivolous (reviewed here) comes very close in terms of color, but it is a Lip Color Shine that seems to have been discontinued.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Impulse right swatch comparisons

The shade on the right of Impulse is a dark reddened brown, and I was pleased to find it is a spot on match for Show It Off [reviewed here].  The latter is a limited edition offering from Fall 2016, but is still available online.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Sabouteur lip swatches

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips in Saboteur is a crowd favourite and used on this season’s campaign photos because of its alluring and brightening hues.  The swatches above are done in the following order:

  1. Left shade of Saboteur worn all over lip
  2. Right shade of Saboteur worn all over lip
  3. Right shade of Saboteur worn all over lip + left shade layered in the center
  4. Left shade of Saboteur worn all over lip + right shade layered in the center

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Cheeks Sublimate & Lips Sabouteur

Whichever way you choose to wear Saboteur, it is an edgy selection and bound to stand out.  In the makeup look above, I had worn it in the style #3 shown in the lip swatches above, with the darker shade forming the all over base and the lighter in the middle.  The same Shade & Illuminate Cheek in Sublimate on cheeks… more on that later.

On to some comparison swatches for Saboteur!

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Sabouteur left shade comparison swatches

I was surprised to find how many dupes I had for both shades of Saboteur.  I don’t typically set out to pick up such a bright shade of fuchsia, and I reckon we don’t see many luxury brands turning out this many fuchsia lipsticks.  Every one of the dupes I have here are limited edition – Francesco, Logan and Kingston are all from the Lips & Boys collections over the years (reviewed here, here, and here); whereas I’ll Teach You is another of the Lip Contour Duos from Fall 2016 (here).  Regardless, I think Saboteur left has much more blue in its base than any of the others shown here.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Sabouteur right shade comparison swatches

The right side shade of Saboteur is a little more unique as it is a dark plum that also has some warm tints in the base without pulling too red.  It is in essence a perfect marriage between Nicholas and Black Orchid, the latter is limited edition of course and notoriously difficult to get hold of until it was recently relaunched as part of the Orchid Collection.  Nicholas is part of the current Lips and Boys offerings so you may want to check it out.

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Cheeks Sublimate

Lastly, I wanted to give you another look at Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate.  Having used this for a good part of the last 3 weeks, I have to say that the blush shade is much more pigmented than I had initially expected.  It has quite a bit of slip to it, so it tends to sheer out too much when swatched with a finger.  However, when applied with a dense and firm brush like the Tom Ford Cream Foundation brush 02, the color shows up easily and blends beautifully into the skin as you have already seen in the 2 full-faced makeup looks above.  It has decent longevity, lasting about 8 hours on me before fading gently.  But I do live in a more humid & hot climate, and my foundation tends to oxidize, so if you don’t typically have those issues to deal with you may experience better longevity.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Sublimate blush shade comparison swatches

I don’t have many blushes of this hue, and both Ravish and Softcore are quite different as you can see from the swatch comparison above.  I think the closest shade from the Tom Ford family would be the new Cheek Color in Gratuitous that was recently released [swatched here] although I feel Sublimate is warmer.

I hope you had enjoyed this long post, and found the various dupe comparisons useful.  The point of it all is of course if you already have a substantial Tom Ford collection and are still on the fence about these new offerings, you may be gratified to find you perhaps already own something similar.  On the other hand, if you missed out on some of the limited editions mentioned in this post, this may be your chance at redemption.  Whichever way you look at it, it has been fun for me to run through my own stash!  Have a happy weekend!

xo Linda

This post featured products that had been generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Saboteur, Impulse and Sublimate… review & dupes! appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection

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Tom Ford Soleil 2017 Summer CollectionTom Ford Soleil 2017 Summer Collection

If there’s 1 thing I’ve come to learn, it’s that Tom Ford never fails to put sexy into beauty.  The latest Soleil Collection for Summer 2017 comprises of a small but tightly curated color makeup designed to make traveling so much easier, and a Blanc Bath & Body line to make it seem like you’ve spent all day stretching out and soaking up the sun.

Tom Ford Soleil 2017 Summer Collection

Tom Ford’s latest Soleil Collection returns with many of the product formats that we had seen last year, but with new color variations.  These will replace last summer’s offerings, and be available for the entire year ahead.  The one thing is a completely new, is the cute Clutch-Sized Lip Balm.

Tom Ford Clutch-Sized Lip Balm

These 4 miniature lip offerings are the same size as the Tom Ford Lips & Boys, but in the Soleil white-gold casings.  Housed within is a completely new tinted lip balm that not only pampers the lips with moisture, they also pack a good dose of color for a jelly-like juicy pout. The small rounded-dome bullets are really cute and glide over the lips easily without much fear of smudging out of the lip lines.

Tom Ford Clutch-sized Lip Balm swatches

As can be expected with lip balms, these are definitely sheer, though Neotropic and Fathom boast more color than L’Odisea and Cruising.  I like that they don’t start to dry out after a couple of hours the way some tinted balms do on my lips, and at the same time, they don’t make my lips feel slick and slippery.  For a lip balm, these actually have fairly impressive lasting power, although they go away with eating, they do leave a pretty light stain behind.

Tom Ford Sun Worship Cream & Powder Eye Color

Returning this season is the double-deckered Cream & Powder Eye Shadow Duo.  There are 2 repromotes – Golden Peach and Naked Bronze [swatched here].  In addition, there are 2 new shades this season – Sun Worship and Young Adonis.

Tom Ford Sun Worship Cream & Powder Eye Color swatches

For some reason Sun Worship showed up much more bronze in the picture above, but it swatches out to be a cool gold.  The top layer of powdered eyeshadow is a gold glitter with a translucent base and is a great topper.  The cream eyeshadow in the jar below is a dense gold shade with highly reflective metallic finish.  The combination of the two gives greater opacity and even more shine, but does not change in terms of color.

Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Color - Sun Worship & Young Adonis

In contrast, Young Adonis seems cooler and more muted.

Tom Ford Young Adonis Cream & Powder Eye Color swatches

The top layer of Young Adonis is a muted pale bronze with some champagne gold glitters, and is quite sheer.  In contrast, the lower level cream shade is a medium-light bronze that has more red tones than the powdered shadow.  It also has a metallic finish though not as reflective as Sun Worship.  The combination of the two results in a shade that reminds me of Platinum from Holiday 2014 [reviewed here].

Tom Ford Soleil Contouring Compact

The big palette in the collection is a new color variation of the Soleil Contouring Compact – Soleil Afterglow.  This is a highlighter/blush/bronzer housed in a square-shaped palette.  Compared to last year’s Afternooner, this Soleil Afterglow is noticeably cooler and much pinker in tone.

Tom Ford Soleil Contouring Compacts - comparison swatches between Afternooner and Soleil Afterglow

On the other hand, I found Soleil Afterglow to be even more pigmented than Afternooner, and I would recommend a very light hand with both the blusher and bronzer, and blend blend blend!

Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo Reflects Gilt

For those who prefer something more compact, the Sheer Cheek Duo returns this year with a new color variation – Paradise Lust, and a new Sheer Highlighting Duo – Reflects Gilt (shown above).  The formula is the same as last year’s Bicoastal [reviewed here], which is a designed to be used both wet and dry, and leaves a luminous finish.

Tom Ford Paradise Lust Sheer Cheek Duo

As you can see, both pull warm-ish.  Paradise Lust (on the right) is noticeably warmer and more coral than last year’s Bicoastal.

Tom Ford Paradise Lust & Reflects Gilt swatches

Again, I feel that Paradise Lust is more pigmented than last year’s Bicoastal, but if you already have plenty of coral blushes and cannot justify getting both of them, I suggest picking up Reflects Gilt instead.  One can never have enough highlighters in this day and age, and both shades are so pretty, I am tempted to wear them on my eyes too!

For fans of Tom Ford bronzers, the beloved cult classic has been reformulated this season.  I failed to capture a picture of them at the preview session I attended, but there is a noticeable bump in the pan, so the powder is not flush with the palette but slightly raised.  Cosmetics aside, the new Ultimate Bronzer now comes in a hybrid liquid and powder formula has a bouncy airy texture that stays on for up to 10 hours.  Available in the 3 usual shades – Gold Dust, Terra, Bronze Age.  And to accompany the new bronzers, Tom Ford has released a retractable Soleil Bronzing Brush.  This is a dense synthetic brush with a pointed rounded tip.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Bath & Body Line for Summer 2017

Apart from the color collection, Tom Ford has also added a few new pieces to the Soleil Blanc body line.  I am particularly loving Soleil Blanc All Over Body Spray.  This comes in an aerated spray can, and dispenses Soleil Blanc in a cloud that feels much lighter and as a result, less sweet.  This is perhaps my favourite way to wear Soleil Blanc by far!  Not shown here is a Body Oil which is colourless and shimmer-free, but hydrates the skin after all day tanning in the sun and smells faintly of Soleil Blanc.  For those who are averse to direct sun exposure, there is a Bronzing Gel (housed in a tube that is similar to the SPF shown above) that gives a healthy touch of color to mimic a few minutes out in the sun.  This can be used on the face or all over the body, and reminds me of last year’s Radiant Moisture Souffle.

Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection makeup look

Here is a simple makeup look featuring Reflects Gilt used on the eyes, with the bronzer shade from Soleil Afterglow in the crease.  I also used Reflects Gilt on my cheeks to highlight, but the effect is lost to my camera.  On my lips is Neotropic, about 3 swipes without any primer or liner underneath.

Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection makeup look

And here is another look featuring Sun Worship dabbed to the middle of my lids, on top of Platinum from Holiday 2014.  Cheeks feature all 3 shades of Soleil Afterglow – pink blush along the cheek bones from the apples to the hairline, highlighter higher up on the cheeks, and bronzer under the cheeks to sculpt.  On my lips I’m wearing Fathom lip balm, about 3 swipes without a primer or liner underneath.

Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection will be launched in Singapore on 10 May.  As always, be sure to get there early to avoid disappointment!

xo Linda

This post featured some products (marked with *) that were generously provided for my consideration.  All other swatches were taken during the media preview.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.

The post Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection appeared first on Silverkis' World.

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